About grant-in-aid

Are you living on a social grant but can’t look after yourself? You can get an additional grant to pay the person who takes full-time care of you. 

How do you know if you qualify?

You must:

• already get a disability grant, war veteran’s grant or grant for older persons
• not be able to look after yourself owing to your physical or mental disabilities, and therefore need full-time care from someone else
• not be cared for in an institution that receives subsidy from the government for your care or housing.

How much will you get?

The grant that you will get from April 2012 is R280 per month.

How will you be paid?

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will pay the grant to you through one of the following methods:

• cash at a specific pay point on a particular day
• electronic deposit into your bank or postbank account (the bank may charge you for the service) 
• institution acting as administrator of the grant (e.g. welfare organisation).

The grant will be paid together with your social grant.

Note: If you are unable to collect the money yourself, you can appoint a procurator at the SASSA office, or give someone power of attorney to collect the grant on your behalf.

When may your grant be reviewed?

Your grant may be reviewed when the social grant to which it is attached is reviewed.

What you should do

• Go to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office nearest to where you live and bring the following:
  • your 13-digit bar-coded identity document (ID)
  • proof of your marital status and spouse’s identity where applicable
  • medical report or assessment report (less than three months old) that shows that you need full-time care.

Note: If you are too old or sick to travel to the office to apply, a family member or friend can apply on your behalf. The person should take a letter from you and/or a doctor's note saying why you can't visit the office.

• Complete the application form in the presence of the SASSA officer (note that only you as the beneficiary or a SASSA official can complete the application form). The officer will interview you and tell you if you qualify for the grant.
• You will be given a receipt. Keep it as proof that you applied.

What if your application is not approved?

If your application is not approved, SASSA will inform you in writing why your application was unsuccessful.

If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Minister of Social Development. You must appeal within 90 days of being notified that your application was unsuccessful.

Timeframe

• It may take up to three months to process your application.
• If your grant is approved, you will be paid from the date on which you applied.

How much does it cost

The service is free.

Forms to complete

Application forms are not available online, but you can get them from your nearest social security (SASSA) office.

Who to contact

South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)